Wimbledon in major schedule clash as chiefs are urged to break protocol for Euro 2024 final between England and Spain
WIMBLEDON are being urged to break their strict protocol and avoid a major schedule clash.
Rain has poured down on SW19 throughout the fortnight of the 2024 Championships.
That meant the mixed doubles tournament, which started on Friday, did not complete round one until Wednesday.
As a result, the All England Club made the call to move the final from Thursday to Sunday.
It is now scheduled for after the men’s singles final, which begins on Centre Court at 2pm.
However, there is now a serious risk of the mixed doubles final overlapping with England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Last year’s men’s singles final lasted four hours and 42 minutes – finishing just before 7pm.
Should the same happen on Sunday, the Wimbledon mixed doubles final would still be going on when England kick-off.
As a result, it is highly likely that there are plenty of empty seats in the 15,000-seater stadium – as fans choose to watch the football instead, especially with no British players in the final.
However, to make matters worse, Wimbledon have a strict ‘no football’ policy and refuse to show the Euros on any of the public screens – even closing the blinds in the media centre to stop punters peering through the windows.
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As a result, Centre Court ticket holders wanting to catch the Euros final may have to choose between watching on their phones or getting off site to watch the game.
The Times’ Stuart Fraser called on Wimbledon to put the mixed doubles final on before the men’s singles.
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That could then make way for the All England Club to loosen their rules to broadcast the Euro 2024 final on the big screens for fans on Henman Hill to enjoy – and possibly cheer England’s men’s national team on winning their first trophy since 1966 at one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world.
Fans on social media also piled in to try and put pressure on the All England Club to make the one-off allowance.
One said: “It’s absolutely fitting to see England being crowned European Champions at one of the most British institutions.”
Another wrote: “Good shout. Could be a fun evening after all the tennis celebrations.”
A third added: “What a fab idea.”
And a final user commented: “Totally, totally agree.”
Others, however, were keen to keep football out of Wimbledon and do not want the football screened at the home of tennis.
Wimbledon are also to be forced into a £250,000 bill after so much rain on Tuesday.
Play did not start on the outside courts without roofs until 5pm and the club opted to therefore offer refunds to the 4,000 No2 Court ticket holders and the 3,000 fans who paid for Ground Passes.
Wimbledon 2024 prize money
PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record – and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.
The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events – an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.
However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 – taking the winner’s earnings to £2.7m.
Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:
- Winner: £2.7m
- Runner-up: £1.4m
- Semi-finalists: £715,000
- Quarter-finalists: £375,000
- Fourth round: £226,000
- Third round: £143,000
- Second round: £93,000
- First round: £60,000
- Overall total: £50m